Avalanche forecast

South Rockies

Apr 23 – 24, 2014Avalanche Canada
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Archived · expired 12 years ago

Avalanche danger

Fri
Sat
Alpine
No rating
Treeline
No rating
Below
No rating
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Highlights

We are no longer issuing danger ratings for this region due to a lack of field data.Check out this video and blog post for more insight into managing spring conditions.

Avalanche problems

  • Cornices

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Unlikely - Possible
    Size
    2–5
    Large cornices loom above many alpine slopes and will become weak with daytime warming. Give cornices a wide berth while traveling on or below ridges.

  • Loose Wet

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    1–2
    Loose wet activity is likely in steep terrain during periods of rain, warming, or solar radiation. Also, watch for new wind slab development in exposed lee terrain at higher elevations if it is snowing.

  • Deep Persistent Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Unlikely
    Size
    3–6
    The potential for deep persistent slabs will increase when the sun is shining, temperatures are warm or when rain falls. Minimize exposure to big alpine slopes when things are warming up.

Confidence

Poor - Due to the number of field observations

Weather Forecast

Thursday: Mainly cloudy with showers or wet flurries and sunny breaks (5 mm or cm). The freezing level is around 1800-2000 m and winds are light but gusty from the SW. Friday: Cloudy with sunny breaks and a chance of precipitation. The freezing level is around 2000-2200 m and ridge winds are light from the W-SW. Saturday: Cloudy with flurries or showers. The freezing level is around 2200 m and ridge winds are light from the south.  

Avalanche Summary

Warm temperatures and sunshine have probably resulting in some loose wet avalanche activity, primarily from solar aspects. Isolated cornice collapses are also likely. We have not received any reports of deeper slab avalanches but I would not rule these out, especially considering the weather of the past couple days.

Snowpack Summary

Note: We have very little recent data to base this summary on. If you're out in the mountains ask other locals about the current conditions and spend some time making snow and weather observations to help assess local hazard. Prior to the weekend the region received up to 40cm of new snow with the snow line hovering between 1500 and 1700 m. Since then we have seen mostly light amounts of precipitation with a snow line between 1800 and 2000 m. This recent snowfall overlies a melt-freeze crust in many areas. My best guess is that cold wintery snow still exists in high, north facing terrain while warm temperatures and solar radiation have created moist surfaces everywhere else. If there is a good overnight freeze these surfaces will exist as a hard crust.The deep facet/crust persistent weakness buried at the beginning of February (now down up to 80-100+ cm) should stay on your radar, especially on all alpine slopes during sunny periods. Any activity at this interface would be large and destructive. Also, give large sagging cornices a wide berth when traveling on or below corniced ridges.

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